No. 25 South Carolina wasn’t sure how well its kicking game would hold up with all-Southeastern Conference kicker-punter Ryan Succop off to the NFL. So far, Spencer Lanning has barely missed a beat, or a kick, for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina’s makeshift defense will face its toughest test of the year against No. 4 Mississippi. The teams meet Thursday night in Columbia.

The party’s over in Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama has fallen off a list of the nation’s top party schools. The Princeton Review didn’t include the Capstone in its annual ranking of the top U.S. campuses for partying, which goes on sale Tuesday.

Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead speaks at SEC Media Days on Day 2.

Ole Miss SAF Kendrick Lewis speaks at SEC Media Days on Day 2.

Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt speaks at SEC Media Days on Day 2.

Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct in his cab driver assault case. Kennedy avoided trial and possible jail time with the plea deal Monday in Hamilton County Municipal Court in Cincinnati. He will be on probation for six months and must perform 40 hours of community service.

Meeks, Patterson lead Kentucky past Ole Miss in SEC tourney.

On-again, off-again starter Chris Smelley threw three touchdown passes, South Carolina’s No. 1 defense held Mississippi to a field goal in the second half and the Gamecocks beat the Rebels 31-24 on Saturday for their first Southeastern Conference win.

Steve Spurrier has the No. 1 defense in college football. Now, if he could only get his trademark offense playing the same way at South Carolina. The Gamecocks coach said Tuesday he was proud of his defenders, ranked first in overall defense among Football Bowl Subdivision clubs. Spurrier says he’ll work this week to nudge his 79th-ranked offense for South Carolina’s Southeastern Conference game at Ole Miss on Saturday.

The first debate between Barack Obama and John McCain was held Friday night. The candidates faced off in Mississippi and wasted no time telling voters how they differ on the issues. Linsey Davis was there, and has the highlights in a WJBF-TV News Channel 6 Vote 08 report.

The future of the first Presidential debate is still up in the air. This comes after Senator John McCain announced he won’t debate until a bailout agreement is reached. Senator Barack Obama says he’ll be there, one way or another. Linsey Davis has more, as we take a look across America.